The 6th annual Yucca Valley Film Festival will take place this weekend. Held at the Community Center, the three-day festival places significant interest in films made locally in the Hi-Desert and San Bernardino County. Upwards of 400 submissions were received this year from 29 countries. The lineup includes over 50 screenings of music videos, documentaries, feature films, short films, and more. Following the screenings, attendees will be able to participate in a “Question and Answer” panel and picture signing with filmmakers.
The festival’s Kid’s Program will be held on Saturday showcasing eleven family-friendly films. This will be followed by the Masterclass with A-List director and producer Shane Stanley, who will discuss filmmaking in Hollywood. Stanley is a two-time Emmy winner and has worked on projects such as Gridiron Gang, Night Train, and Double Threat. An Industry Panel will explore the Current State of Hollywood as discussed by directors, producers, and actors in the business today.
New this year, the festival lineup includes an interactive Rapid-Fire Pitch Practice event. Filmmakers, artists, and writers in attendance will be paired with community members and have one minute to pitch their concept for a project. Community members will in turn ask questions and provide feedback, giving them the opportunity to step into the role of producers.
Festival Director Matt Beurois is the guest on this week’s “Up Close Show with Gary Daigneault.” Beurois noted how the festival continues to grow as a key event for the community of artists in the Morongo Basin.
“It is the signature event of the Town of Yucca Valley. We’ve been doing the film festival for six years, and every year we have more people coming in and more filmmakers. People here in the community love the festival, but also filmmakers in Los Angeles, San Diego, and out-of-state want to come to the festival and they come back. We are really creating a community of filmmaking, and Yucca Valley is the place to be this weekend.”
The Yucca Valley Film Festival kicks off this Friday, November 8 at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The red carpet will be rolled out at 5:30 p.m., to be followed by Mayor Robert Lombardo’s opening words before the first day of screenings. The event runs through Sunday and will culminate with an awards ceremony and social hour.
For more information about this year’s festival and a full list of screenings, visit yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com.
